A Balanced Diet is a Cookie in Each Hand

Recently, I posted a picture in one of my thankful lists of the monster cookies that I baked. One of my friends asked me for the recipe, made the cookies that day, and said they were the best cookies EVER! I figured I should share this goodness with you all!

Monster Cookies

1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup butter (I did 1 cup of butter and no margarine)
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup Smarties
1/2 cup peanut butter

Grease cookie sheets. Cream together first 4 ingredients until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla. Combine next 5 ingredients separately and then add to the other mixture. Mix in the last 3 ingredients. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Makes 3 dozen. These were thoroughly enjoyed by myself + my family! I love cookies!

An Unexpected Gift

I've been wanting to go out for supper to the Olive Garden for a while now, as it is one of my favorite restaurants. This morning, it popped back into my head, so I decided to ask God if He could somehow provide the money for us to go there, maybe in the form of a gift card or something since when we do have extra money, it often goes to other things that we need. Jared came home for lunch today and said,
"Your Dad called me this morning. He's supposed to pick up your Mom at the airport, but he has an important appointment + meeting to go to, so he asked if we could pick her up. He said to go out for supper and he would pay for it and he would also pay for our gas."
My eyes immediately filled with tears when I told Jared that just this morning I asked God to provide for us to go to the Olive Garden. I honestly wasn't expecting an answer so quickly! Jared said, "That's funny because just yesterday, I was thinking how I would like to take you to the Olive Garden." WHAT?! I hadn't told Jared about my desire to go there. Only God could orchestrate all of that! I know it may not be a huge thing, but it meant A LOT to me that God would bless us with a gift like that and so quickly after asking Him. His goodness just makes me want to cry tears of joy!

Thanks!

“Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God…” Psalm 50:14a

Recent gifts I’m thankful for:

651. Farmer sausage burgers

652. This game, which I often beat Jared at

653. My new blog post divider (the thing with the pink + blue flowers on it in between my posts)

654. These two, for as many moments that can be frustrating with them, there are more that just make me smile

655. That the nausea I had this afternoon passed by suppertime and I was able to eat

656. The mini kleenex box (a free sample I got in the mail)

657. These new crackers that we bought…great flavor!

 

658. That “The Lord gives his people strength.  The Lord blesses them with peace.” Psalm 29:11

659. This sweet moment

660. That God healed me from scoliosis (curvature of the spine) when I asked Him to at 11 years old

661. That my kids love books (when I was pregnant with Kiera, I prayed that she would love reading)

662. That “those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.” Psalm 34:5

663. Finding alternative uses for an old shower head, like using it as a microphone

664. For my friend who is watching my kids for a bit while Jared + I go to my ultrasound this week!

665. Kiera’s creative use of stickers.  I forgot they were there and Jared came home and I started talking to him and he burst out laughing and I didn’t know what was so funny!

20 Weeks Pregnant

I’m halfway through my pregnancy now and I’m quite happy about that!  I do have some mixed feelings as we are planning to be done with 3 kids.  I’m mostly very excited to be done and to be moving on from the baby stage after this year.  I do have a couple of friends who are convinced we’re going to have 4 kids for some reason, but that would take a miracle.  It would take us changing our minds or God giving us a surprise, both of which would be a miracle, which I also know is possible.  We are planning to permanently close that door, though.  It makes me a tiny bit sad that all of the baby’s firsts will also be lasts in our house, like the last time seeing the first tooth and the last time learning to walk, etc.  I’m mostly very content, though.  I don’t think that the “perfect family” has to have an even number of kids.  I grew up with just me + my sister and always wanted another sibling and Jared was an only child, so we’re having as many kids as both of our families combined.  We also thought it would be neat to be done having kids at the age that 3 out of 4 of our parents started having kids.  My Mom was 27 + my Dad was 26 when I was born.  Jared’s Dad was 26 + his Mom was 24 when he was born.  Jared will still be 26 and I will still be 27 in August.  I’m also really looking forward to turning 30, not because of the number, but because we will be at the end or nearing the end of diapers!  I feel VERY busy with our 2 kids, so I’m praying that 3 kids won’t be total chaos for me, at least some of the time! 

I am planning to keep teaching piano starting in October + I’m also thinking of joining 2 friends and their kids for home pre-schooling with Kiera, so I’m praying and praying for a content baby who will be a good sleeper, too.  Sending Kiera to preschool isn’t an option for our budget, as it is pricey, and I’ve been praying about this little home pre-school group and really feeling like that is what I would love to do and I think Kiera would really enjoy it, too.  It depends how this baby is and whether or not I could find a baby-sitter or if I could bring all 3 of them and Blake would just play and the baby would be fairly quiet or just sleep (in a perfect scenario).  Right now we just have to wait and see.  For the record, I do not plan on homeschooling our kids and Kiera will be going to Kindergarten next year!  So, I will have one year with 3 kids at home full-time and then things will change.  The thought of having 3 kids 3 and under makes me go, “Yikes!” but then 2 1/2 months later, Kiera will turn 4. 

I am having my ultrasound next week, which will probably be my very last baby ultrasound!  We are not finding out the gender.  We never have before and I just LOVE being surprised! 

Here are pictures at 18.5 weeks + 19 weeks

This one was taken by my Mom-in-law last week

The White Stuff

No, I’m not talking about snow or drugs.  I’m talking about cauliflower.  I found another great salad recipe which I really like.  Cauliflower tends to be a rather bland tasting vegetable, so this dresses it up very nicely!

Creamy Cauliflower Salad

2 cups chopped cauliflower

1/4 cup chopped celery

1/4 cup shredded cheese

2 bacon strips, cooked + crumbled (I just use bacon bits)

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 tbsp. sugar

1 tbsp. vinegar

1/8 tsp. salt

Dash of pepper

In a serving bowl, combine the first 4 ingredients.  In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients, pour over cauliflower mixture, and stir until coated.  Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.

I pre-made this for my supper today and the rest of the family is having leftovers for supper, so supper is super easy today + already made ahead of time!

♪ ♫ OOOOWWWWW…I Feel Good (da na na na na na na)!! ♪ ♫

Someone asked me yesterday about my digestion problems, so I figured I should give an update.  After following my naturopath’s advice of sticking with the diet and then cheating one food at a time, after about 5 weeks, I came up with a list of the foods that bother me:

-Corn

-Tomatoes + tomato sauce

-Chips

-Kraft Dinner

-Hot dogs

-Plain milk – if it’s cooked or baked into something, it doesn’t seem to be a problem

-DQ blizzards – my naturopath said that is very common and that if people are going to have a problem with a certain kind of ice cream, it’s extremely often DQ because they use ice milk

-Tater tot casserole

-Oranges/orange juice

-Canned soups

-Chinese food

I still often cook different meals for myself than my family because I often use either canned soups or tomato pasta sauce in their meals.  One thing I can eat without a problem that has some tomato in it is pizza, which I’m SO thankful for!  It’s also a huge blessing to not be intolerant to gluten or cheese and I can have other kinds of ice cream!  The naturopath said I don’t have to go back to see her unless things get worse again.  When I was there for my last appt. she said, “The last time you were here, you were running to the bathroom at least 3 times a day, had a lot of stomach pain, gas, and weren’t able to eat a full meal.”  I said, “Wow!  I had forgotten how bad it was!”  I don’t have any of that now, praise Jesus!  He has blessed me beyond measure!

The Past Couple of Weeks

“The more I count these blessings, the more I realize that they really are not the product of my own efforts. They are truly gifts of grace from God above. It’s incredible to open my eyes to them week after week. And humbling. That I should be graced with such wonders? Me… whose heart is weak and black, yet covered with much mercy. How great is Your unfailing love, Lord God of all!” ~Sharaya Crossan

These are the gifts I am thankful for today:

631. My son cuddling with me today and laying his head down on my chest while I sung worship songs and we rocked in the rocking chair resulting in my heart totally melting.

632. Subway for lunch (oven roasted chicken breast footlong, except we didn’t have onions or pickles on it)

633. That Jared always takes our vehicles to the car wash

634. Strawberry applesauce

635. Listening to what Kiera says she’s thankful for

636. Clearing the nose in order to breathe better :)

637. Watching a chick flick with Jared after the kids are in bed

638. Having “help” with housework (I can’t count how many times I sweep the floor in a week)

639. Books that tug at my heart, like every book Karen Kingsbury has ever written

640. Cute hoodies

641. My kids getting invited to a birthday party

642. Baking monster cookies for the first time

643. My new niece, Sophia Grace, and her head full of dark hair, which my kids never had

644. Cinnamon hearts

645. For every day that I feel great, that is God’s grace

646. Watching my kids enjoy treats

647. Vanilla ice cream topped with chocolate pudding which we enjoyed for dessert yesterday

648. Cheeseburgers, which Jared bbq’d for supper yesterday

649. Our sort of Skype conversation with my Mom, my sister, + brother-in-law on the week-end: our sound kept cutting out, so I did some interpretive dancing for them.  Ya, so we probably need a new webcam.

650. The best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever made: recipe found on allrecipes.com (LOVE that website)

My Singer

It's been a while since I posted a video on here. I actually haven't been taking very many videos or pictures in the past couple of months. The kids haven't been doing as many new things, or sometimes I forget to get the camera, or sometimes I go get it but then it's too late by the time I get back. I do have one of Kiera singing one of the many songs that she knows and this one is from February.

Soup Du Jour

I’ve always thought that one of my aunts makes the best chicken noodle soup, but I must say, this recipe rivals it!  I absolutely love it!

Chicken Noodle Soup

1 tbsp. butter

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped celery

3 cups chicken broth

2 cups vegetable broth

1 chicken breast, cooked + chopped

1 1/2 cups noodles

1 cup sliced carrots

1/2 tsp. basil

1/2 tsp. oregano

Salt + pepper to taste

Heat butter in pot over medium heat.  Cook onion + celery in butter.  Add rest of ingredients + bring to a boil.  Reduce heat + simmer for 20 minutes before serving.

Some people don’t like vegetables in their chicken noodle soup, so you could leave them out if you’re one of those.  This is a very tasty, hearty soup and makes my tummy feel good!

Auntie Elleah For the First Time

This is my 400th post and what wonderful news I have to share! Most of you already heard on Facebook, but Jared + I became uncle + aunt for the first time today at 2:30 a.m. our time, or 12:30 a.m. my sister's time!! Sophia Grace was born at 12:30 a.m. their time (2:30 a.m. our time) and weighed 6 lbs. 11 oz. and is 19 inches long. She arrived 10 days early and is healthy! I was on the phone with Jenene last night 3 hours before Sophia was born while my sister was in labor. The contractions were about 5 minutes apart while we were talking and not too intense yet. I am so thrilled for them! I am also a bit sad that I can't see the baby in person for quite a while. The soonest I might get to meet her is if they come for a visit in August, after our baby is born, and if not, then at Christmas. She was born at a birthing center in the water. My Mom is flying out in a couple of days to meet her and help them. I'm trying not be jealous! I went and bought some super cute girly clothes today for Sophia which I will send along with my Mom! Jared took the day off today and we all went to the chiropractor and then to the mall as Jared wanted to buy a blu-ray player and I bought the baby clothes. We went out for a late lunch after that and got home around 3:30 this afternoon. It was fun having a family day! :) Praise the Lord for a beautiful new family member, our kids' very first cousin!!!!

More Counting

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7

I am thankful for:

616. The mornings that I get to sleep in

617. Ducks (this was taken at a park in Dublin)

618. All of the worship times, Scriptures, prayers, words of encouragement, messages, and fellowship I experienced at our church’s women’s retreat

619. Just Dance 2 for Wii, which was played at the women’s retreat and was absolutely hilarious + so much fun (I could post videos, but I won’t) :)

620. My absolute favorite chocolate, which I had in England

621. Seeing the snow melt

622. Cherry cheesecake, which I very much enjoyed this past week-end

623. Baby kicks in my belly

624. Mashed potatoes

625. A quiet alarm in the morning, unlike the horribly loud beeping one we heard from another room at the retreat this past week-end

626. Blue raspberry kool-aid smoothies, which I made last week (they were actually red)

627. Our black suitcases which I decorated with bright blue fabric paint so that we would be able to easily tell them apart from all the other black luggage wherever we go (they look ridiculous and I like them)

628. Quiet van rides

629. The way skin heals after getting a cut or other small injury

630. Seeing Blake’s excitement over the cat (notice how the cat is ready to bolt)

Muffins Are Just Small Cakes in Doilies

I got the title off the internet.  I thought it was kind of funny.  After trying several times to bake muffins using different types of flour (like white flour and coconut flour) and none of them turning out, I now use regular flour and they turn out perfectly!  My friend mentioned last week that she would like this recipe, so here you go, Jamie!

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

1 cup flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

3 tbsp canola or olive oil

1 grated apple

1/4 cup milk

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix dry ingredients together.  Add wet ingredients.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.  I think this yields about 9 muffins.  I really like them!

An Answer to an Unusual Prayer

For the past I don't even know how long, at least a month or maybe 2, I've been getting up every night to go to the bathroom. Blake finally started sleeping consistently through the night after New Year's, but then I was up anyway. My bladder doesn't hold liquid nearly as long during pregnancy, so I was getting a bit frustrated and tired of being up night after night, no matter how much or little I had to drink in the evening. I finally decided I would pray about it. I felt a bit silly asking God to make my bladder hold out until the morning, but that's what I prayed because I knew He could do that. That was a week ago and with the exception of last night (Blake started crying), I have slept through the night every night and have not had to go to the bathroom until the morning! I am SO thankful and in awe that He cares about things like that! He makes me smile. :)

Exercise for the Body, Mind, + Soul

At about 10 weeks pregnant, I decided to start working out again. I was going to do Tae Bo, but for some reason, our laptop wouldn't play the disc. I wanted to work out in the morning before the kids were awake, so using the t.v. wasn't an option since Kiera's room is close to it and that would wake her up. So, I started looking online and I found Prenatal Pilates on YouTube! The great thing about it is that it's broken up into 5 10-minute segments focusing on different parts of the body:

1. Standing Pilates (uses small hand weights and works on balance + coordination)
2. Core Pilates (works on abs and you lie on 1 pillow, 2 pillows, or 3, depending which trimester you're in)
3. Pilates for Buns + Thighs
4. Total Body Pilates (uses small hand weights and works on strength + flexibility)
5. Pilates for Flexibility (my favorite one - lots of stretching, working on breathing + relaxing)

I normally only do one or two 10-minute segments, depending on how much time I have before Blake wakes up or how I feel. I also don't do it every day because sometimes I don't wake up before Blake does. I'm really enjoying it and the lady instructing it was 36 weeks pregnant at the time and of course looks amazing! I'm thankful I found a free pregnancy work-out broken up into smaller time frames!

Since January, I decided to move to a different book of the Bible for memorizing. Ann from A Holy Experience (blog) said a group of them are going to memorize the book of Colossians (4 chapters) by the end of the year. I decided I would join them, except my goal is to memorize it before the baby comes in mid-August. I am finding it WAY more challenging to memorize than the Psalms I was memorizing before! Psalms are written like poems and generally have shorter verses that make memorizing more simple. It took me almost 2 months to memorize Colossians 1 (26 verses). I'm also finding that I have to work harder mentally now that I'm pregnant. I seriously get pregnancy brain and become more forgetful. So, it's definitely a challenge and at the most, I memorize one verse a day and if I don't, I try to memorize at least half a verse a day. I heard a sermon recently about Christians in Asia who go to Bible School and it's normal to memorize half a chapter a day! That makes my half a verse look like peanuts, but it's still good and helpful and I will keep plugging away at it! I'm getting "soul food," so that's what's important! Well worth the few minutes a day that it takes! That's my exercise regimen right now and I plan to keep it up for as long as possible (although I will switch to a non-prenatal work-out after the baby is born)!

Baking Biscuits

On Sunday morning, I wasn't sure what to have for breakfast, so I decided to quickly bake a batch of biscuits.  I got this recipe from a friend and it's great and very easy!

Biscuits

2 cups flour

3 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

3/4 cup milk

6 tbsp. butter (I use olive oil)

Mix dry ingredients.  Add butter.  Add milk + mix.  Bake at 350 for 15-20 min.

I had some with strawberry jam + some with Nutella.  The recipe originally called for 1/2 tsp. salt, but with a sweet spread, they were too salty for me, so I lessened it.  I finished the biscuits yesterday, so I need to go figure out what I’m having for breakfast today.  I think I’ll go bake some apple cinnamon muffins!

Le Week-end

This past week-end was another really fun busy one. We started the week-end with absolutely no plans. We got a call on Friday at supper from friends of ours asking if we wanted to come over right away so that we could visit and the kids could still get to bed at a decent time. So, we proceeded to pack up the kids and walk over there. Our friends live 2 blocks away, but it was -30 outside and it was dark. We've never done that before in those conditions, but we were all well bundled up, so it was ok. While we were there, their 3-year-old son could not get Blake's name right. He started off calling him Jacob, then Blakob, and then Jake. He also kept calling Kiera Karis and then Korea. Funny kid!

My Mom called me when we got home and mentioned that she wanted to come over on Saturday evening to see the kids. I asked her if Jared + I could go out then and she didn't mind, so we called up our friends and asked them if they wanted to come bowling with us. A while ago, I bought a package online that included an hour and a half of bowling for 4 people (and found out when I called to reserve a lane that it was actually for up to 6 people), shoes, a large pizza, and a pitcher of pop for $16. I had won $10 on this website, so it ended up costing me a whopping $6!! WOOHOO! So, we went out with them and it was fun! The pizza was really good, which I didn't expect for bowling alley pizza. We played 3 games and had enough time to start a 4th, but we didn't feel like it, so we left. We ended up going out for supper since a large pizza split between 4 people isn't a ton of food. I ended up having 4 slices, so I wasn't overly hungry. We all split an order of spinach dip with baked pita chips. They all ordered meals, but I ordered an appetizer since it was a smaller portion of food. I ordered pretzel garlic bread which was basically like a 3-cheese garlic bread cut into 6 rectangular strips. I was pretty stuffed by the end. They came over after and played Ticket To Ride with us, so I really enjoyed our evening with them!

On Sunday, we went to church and then picked up Subway for lunch. Both kids napped at the same time (Kiera has only been napping on Sundays) and Jared studied while I read a book. Then, I started getting supper ready and my parents came over for supper. I made sweet + sour chicken, rice, and a salad. That was our week-end. I'm finding I'm really enjoying the busy week-ends since I'm usually not busy during the week. I've sat at home A LOT this past winter, so that makes me appreciate even more the times when I can get out of the house. I can't believe it's March already! Yay, spring is coming!